Budgeting to maintaining the cost yearly...

OK we'll I've had my in wall reef running for about 7 months now and I've noticed i don't spend allot of money on my closed system.

I was looking into what I've basically have to spend on beside purchasing new additions as in livestock...

We'll here's what i put together on what I need to keep my reef going:

Instant Ocean I've purchase 2 boxes of 200 gallon mix from VCJ supply cost 102.00$
3 pre filters for my RO unit cost 15.00$
250 what HQI double ended bulb 20,000k cost 65.00$
diffrent variates of reef/fish food (frozen/dried) cost 40.00$

So I'm looking into spending a little over 200.00 every year that's the exception that my wavemakers/return pump/skimmer pump don't seize up on me(knock on wood)

So I want to know all of your budget's If you fellow reef junkies/marine enthusiasts don't mind

BTW keep in mind I'm not a big dosser or not keeping any type of hard corals so yes I do rely on my water change to feed my reef all the nutrients and essentials that it needs...
I do a four 5 gallon pails every two weeks for changes...

 

my maintainace costs will be similar. 120$for bulbs, 60 for food, 40 for 2 part dosing and 20 for salt. i havnt prices my RO fiters tho...

 

I forgot to mention 40-50 dollars for phos media and activated carbon...

 

...and electricity.

 

naw not really I've been living thier for about 4 years now this coming novemeber and only started my marine hobby couple years ago...from my past hydro bills and to now i don't notice any diffrence in addtions to what we pay for even with my reef running!

 

dont forget you gotta buy bulbs and rodi stuff twice a year,

 

we'll twice a year is not really called for it depends on how much water your producing for water change volume...

As for bulbs the Hqi I'm using to feed my reef to sun it needs for it to excel it's health is being used for 9 hours and within changed every 8-9 months if you average it at that...

So it's per reefer/marine keepers...

i'm just sharing my needs let me see yours...your most likley doubling my results the way you put it....;D

 

For the prefilter and carbon, it's a really good idea, as you're preventing bacteria buildup (and subsequent membrane failure) by changing it twice yearly. The DI can be changed whenever it's needed safely, though.

 

I also read upon my RO unit's capability of flushing the unit to give your prefilters and membrane a better longer time of lasting effect on your H2o's quality...

I go upon every 7-8 months on it's change so seeing this I go once a year in it's change...
as for DI I've manag'd too not have a chance on picking up any as of my reef running without it...this i'll be grabbing prolly when the 1 year anni of my system rolls on in...

 

If you flush the unit, it does nothing for the prefilters at all. Only the RO membrane is affected by that. Just look at where that flush kit is installed; it basically bypasses the flow restrictor (which is on the waste water line) and lets water out there instead of forcing some through the membrane. It does absolutely nothing before that point, in fact requiring water that has already gone through the prefilter and carbon to use during the flush.